Frugal Tools

HeatingHelp

Frugal Tools

Who doesn’t like to talk about tools? I asked a bunch of my friends about the tools that live on in sweet memory as frugal tools — tools that were worth the investment. Tools that lasted.

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Larry Weingarten

I love this essay! Tools talk to me. I have a lot of the old automatic pipe wrenches, because they can do so much more than the modern tools can. With the old tools, there is no pipe I can't deal with. Also many of them are made with such high carbon steel that a file just slides on them. You need a grinder to sharpen the teeth. Still, the biggest hand die I carry is for one inch pipe. Thanks for writing this! 😻

Yours, Larry

DanHolohan

Thanks, Larry. You were on my mind as I typed.

CLamb

I used my grandad's tools to replace my steam boiler several months ago. He had dies up to 2". As someone who hates exercise for exercise's sake I must say that threading pipe by hand is an excellent upper body exercise.

Mad Dog_2

It's amazing that I've purchased only 4 440 Channelocks pliers in almost 40 years. I believe I would still have my Original SuperVee Handylectric Snake if the first didn't get stolen with my whole van. I cherished an inexpensive made in Japan Adjustable wrench with an Aqua Blue Rubber coated handle, because it was Grandma Ethel's (She did all the home repairs. Grandpa Norb was an intellectual journalist that could care less...ha ha. She etched her initials in it too! It was an odd color, so I'm still on the look out if I catch someone with it..ha ha..."Now where's the rest of my tools, Bro???"

When I first started in the mid 1980s, I worked Saturdays and Sundays at the 1810 Christ Plumbing Supply. There were old discarded tools out back from the 1700 & 1800s. I took home old, 6 foot chain tongs, anvil, old presses....Just to HAVE them...

We all have our favorite tools 🔧 abs methods. For example, I only use open ends and sockets when absolutely necessary. I prefer a Made in USA Cresent 🇺🇸...

The Hole Hawg....Aka The Widow Maker..try that on an 8 foot ladder with the wood boring bit for 4" pipe....DEADLY ..I saw a guy get knocked off the ladder, out cold, broken jaw....it's a BAD machine

Mad Dog 🐕

jumper

A craftsman uses correct wrenches rather than pliers or vicegrips. Not frugal…..

Mad Dog_2

Fine craftsmanship is the finished product, doesn't matter much how it was done. If I waited ✋️ to always have the perfect tool for every task....Mad Dog

R Mannino

I was fortunate enough to end up with my grandfather's Snap On tool box. I have no idea how old it is, but what I can tell you is it weighs a ton….empty. He died when I was still pooping up cloth diapers, so I'm guessing it's from the 40's.

Mad Dog_2

For example, my Local 2 Plumbing Instructor Eddie Booth used to talk about "the Parmalee wrench" for doing flawless finish work with Chrome Nipples. The Paramalee wrench was always a question on plumbing exams too. So, about 13 years ago I was working for a union shop and was tasked with doing the finish work on a 14 or 15 appliance commercial kitchen: Commercial potato peeler, giant soup kettle on a crank handle, you get the picture...all exposed waste and waters..chrome-plated Brass pipe up to 2" ....$$$$. I had done plenty of finish chrome work but never so many appliances AND it had to be done on a 3 day weekend..I asked the Shop for a Parmalee Wrench..only Al, the okd timer knew whatbit was...they laughed and said, "Just get it done Sweeney...the last guy destroyed thousands of dollars worth of nipples and fittings.!"

So, I hit the internet, I was gonna get me my OWN Paramalee Wrench....The company was still around, In NJ and they made them to order...$950 bucks and that was just the one for 1/2" Chrome pipe!!!

Geez!! So, I went out to the barn, grabbed pieces of sheet lead, 🌈 rainbow rubber, rosin, strap wrenches et cetera. It may have been hard to watch, but I pulled it off in 3, 14-16 hour marathons. My apprentice Stevie B Bailed after 10 hours...Memorial Day weekend..I didn't have the "proper" tool, but I got them all connected...Mar-Free...All the Chrome pipe, nipples and fittings came to over 12 K...Mad Dog 🐕

HVACNUT

I still have my first (and only) Tin Knockers hammer from 1985 when I was 17. Ring leather handle.

Mad Dog_2

I have my lead wiping tools..over 100 yrs old. I'm training a guy that sitting for his Masters Exam soon. It's getting harder and harder to find the materials. Mad Dog 🐕

Intplm.

If you look at my ID picture, (upper left corner.)You will see a very large set of pipe jaws on a 4 ft. Ridgid pipe wrench given to me by an old friend and boss who treated me well before he died. This is the largest pipe wrench I own. (Is there a larger one made?)

The other pipe wrench was my father's who has also passed away. It is one of four that he had in his collection and the smallest pipe wrench I own at about six inches. It has a wooden handle and it, as well as the other three, is at least one hundred years old and is the most comfortable to use. The four-footer is the least comfortable.

These two wrenches are placed in the picture, with large jaws surrounding the smaller wrench.

The sentimental message is one I enjoy every time I log on to this sight.

mattmia2

I don't see how this will keep it from gouging the pipe, one piece of dirt or a little slipping and it will scratch just like anything else:
https://carolinaroller.com/special-textile-products/general-mill-supplies/roller-wrenches.html

Mad Dog_2

Matt, do you mean the Parmalee wrench? It was designed and advertised as a "mechanical human hand grip." I think if you wiped down both surfaces, you'd be fine. Gonna git me my OWN Paramalee wrench someday....Mad Dog 🐕

Mad Dog_2

I have seen a standard, 6 foot pipe wrench at an old, large mechanical prefab shop. Once you get to those diameters, the Ridgid "Compound" wrench is the easiest to handle and you don't need tons of "swing room." Mad Dog 🐕

mattmia2

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1806600#Comment_1806600

That is what I mean. I think the ones in that link are less expensive than the Parmalee branded ones and the Parmalee web site seems to be broken.

Looks like the use them to grab the rod in hydraulic cylinders.